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A20 SPORTS
Saturday 29 June 2019

Rocket Mortgage pair of top-10 finishes in
November. In his last 10
Continued from Page 17 do, just tighten some things tournaments, though, he
up. I wasn’t prepared as has missed seven cuts and
Charles Howell III (67) was much as I probably should withdrawn once with a fin-
two shots back. J.T. Poston have been this week. But ish no better than a tie for
(63) and Ryan Armour (69) two weeks off, I’ll have 54th. Champ, who is from
were another stroke back. plenty of time and I’ll be Sacramento, California,
Dustin Johnson, the world’s ready to go.” leads the tour in driving dis-
second-ranked player, and Chez Reavie, who won the tance at 316.6 yards and
U.S. Open champion Gary Travelers Championship ranks 187th in accuracy.
Woodland finished at 2 un- last week, and Bubba Wat- After a ringing phone dis-
der to miss the cut by three son also failed to make it to tracted him on the 17th
strokes. the weekend. tee, he sent a 320-yard
“It just seemed like ev- Reavie was tied for fourth drive to the left into the
ery time I hit a bad shot, it entering the day and was rough behind a tree 251
was in the wrong spot and 6 under on his 13th hole yards to the pin. Champ
made bogey,” said John- of the second round. He originally planned to use
son, who had four of five closed with a bogey, dou- a 3-iron before choosing
bogeys on his back nine. ble bogey and triple bo- a 4-iron for his second shot
Woodland opened with gey to plummet to 1-under and sent a low line drive
a 72 in his first start since 143. Watson shot a 75 after under branches that left
winning his first major and opening with a 68. him 91 feet away.
bounced back with a 69, The 36-year-old Lashley “I was just looking to see if
an up-and-down round slipped into the tourna- I could get a 3-iron out of
with eight birdies and five ment as an alternate that lie,” he said. “There
bogeys. Wednesday. Cameron Champ putts on the 10th green during the second was no chance.”
He and Johnson will have “The way I’m playing, round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic golf tournament, Friday, His chip set him up for a
an extra couple of days yeah, I feel like I should be June 28, 2019, in Detroit. 9-footer for birdie, his only
to prepare for the British out here every week,” he Associated Press one on the back nine.
Open. said. Lashley is No. 132 in great. To be able to kind in February, when he tied “The back side I really
“Yeah, I need to get ready, the FedEx Cup standings. of relax the last few events for eighth at the Puerto didn’t play terrible, I just
but I’m excited about Por- “I need a good week and of the season would be re- Rico Open. The 24-year-old hit a few shots that kind
trush,” Woodland said. move up into that top 125,” ally nice.” Lashley’s only Champ won the Sander- of limited my ability to get
“I’ve heard great things. he said. “To do it this week top-10 finish during his two- son Farms Championship it close to the hole,” he
But I’ve got some work to comfortably would be year PGA Tour career was in October and added a said.q

Stricker goes low again for US. .Senior Open 36-hole mark

By JOHN FINERAN port and friendship,” Kelly African rebounded from
Associated Press said. “I appreciate every- a bogey on the 13th hole
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — thing (Stricker’s) done for with four straight birdies.
The boys from Madison my game. I hope he knows “It’s nice to have that finish
are making it look easy at I’ve been there for him.” and (be) five behind with
Notre Dame in the U.S. Se- The victory last week was two rounds to go,” Goosen
nior Open. Kelly’s fourth on the 50-and- said. “Just got to get on a
For the second straight day, over tour. He won three good run.”
Steve Stricker and Jerry Kel- PGA Tour titles. Bob Estes (65), Chris DiMar-
ly, friends and competitors “Definitely a continua- co (66) and Kirk Triplett (68)
since their junior years in tion of last week,” he said. followed at 8 under.
Wisconsin, took apart the “(I’ve) got a great feel the Among those returning for
rain-softened Warren Golf last five weeks. It’s low ev- the weekend is Tom Wat-
Course, each shooting bo- ery week (on the PGA Tour son, who matched his age
gey-free rounds of 6-under Champions). So it teaches with a 69 on Thursday and
64 in the second round Fri- you to keep going, keep bettered it Friday with an
day. Steve Stricker tees off on the ninth hole during the second round going.” afternoon 68 that included
Stricker broke the tourna- of the U.S. Senior Open golf tournament Friday, June 28, 2019, in Toms was third at 11 under consecutive birdies at holes
ment 36-hole record at South Bend, Ind. after a 67. He played in the 15-17. “I wanted to be here
14-under 126, a day after Associated Press afternoon when wind the on the weekend again,”
shooting an event-record 52-year-old Stricker, the Re- “It stings a little bit,” Strick- picked up. Watson said. “At my age,
62 for a share of the first- gions Tradition winner last er said. “I feel good going “I had some ups and you never know how many
round lead with defend- month for his first major title. around this course. It fits my downs, not quite as solid more USGA championships
ing champion David Toms. “It’s good to see him play- eye well. It’s a treat to go as yesterday but not many you’re going to play in.
Kelly, a playoff winner over ing well. I knew this course around here and play, and days are,” Toms said. “I Watson’s long-time rival,
Stricker and Retief Goosen would set up well for him. I like what I’ve been doing think the wind played a 18-time major winner Jack
last week in the Madison He’s doing everything well so far.” factor, what wind we had Nicklaus, is now a behind-
event that Stricker hosts, as it shows from winning last The 53-year-old Kelly, who in the middle of the round, the-ropes fan and raised
was two strokes back after week.” admits his personality is the as far as trying to get a ball his arms in celebration next
their morning rounds. Stricker has plenty of moti- polar opposite of Stricker’s close to the pin. You had to to wife Barbara when son
“I’ve known Jerry from vation from his loss Sunday quiet nature, says they pay attention to that.” Gary, playing in his first Se-
a young age when we when he missed a birdie have helped each other Two-time U.S. Open cham- nior Open, birdied his final
were playing amateur putt on the final hole of during their low moments pion Retief Goosen had a hole for a 71 that left him at
events and junior events regulation and bogeyed on both tours. 65 to get to 9 under in Se- 1-under 139 and also play-
across Wisconsin,” said the the first playoff hole. “It’s competition and sup- nior Open debut. The South ing this weekend. q